Robotic Cleaners vs. In-Floor Cleaners: What You Should Know

Are you trying to decide whether you’ll purchase a robotic cleaner or an in-floor cleaner for your pool? Let’s take a closer look at some of the factors you’ll want to consider and the ways these two types of systems differ in those regards.

Cost

One of the first factors you’re most likely to look for when looking at robotic cleaners vs. in-floor cleaners in Los Angeles, CA is how much you can expect to pay for the system. Obviously, this isn’t the only factor you’re going to want to consider, but it’s important to at least keep this in mind if you’re working with a tight budget.

In most cases, randomized, robotic pool cleaners are going to cost you less than an in-floor cleaner, at least in terms of the initial investment, because they require significantly less labor in the construction phase of the pool. However, the longer you have your pool, the more the numbers will even out, because you’ll need to replace your robotic pool cleaners much more frequently than you would an in-floor cleaning system.

Performance

More important than the cost you pay for the machine is the performance you can expect to get from it. Specifically, which of these types of cleaners is going to be better at clearing large debris?

This one really depends on the pool. Many robotic pool cleaners work as sort of randomized vacuum cleaners that suck up large debris if they happen to run over it—otherwise, they won’t necessarily pick it up. In-floor cleaners are much more like large broom systems, which will sweep every inch of the pool, but might have a hard time getting the larger pieces of debris unless they also have add-on features, such as debris removal drains.

Cleaning coverage

Which of these two types of cleaning systems is going to cover more of your pool? We already sort of covered this above, but you’ll generally get better coverage out of in-floor cleaners, because they’re not randomized in the same way as robotic cleaners, which use a randomized cleaning pattern to roam your pool and pick up debris.

In-floor cleaners will be customized for every pool in which they’re installed, so they cover every square inch of the pool with great efficiency. Robotic cleaners will get the whole pool if you let them run long enough, but remember that they’re cleaning in a random pattern, so it’s not going to be as efficient if total coverage is your primary goal.

These are just a few of the primary considerations to keep in mind when you’re looking at robotic cleaners vs. in-floor cleaners in Los Angeles, CA for your pool. If you’re interested in learning more about these technologies and the various advantages and disadvantages associated with them, we encourage you to contact the team at Avanti Pools, Inc. and we will be happy to provide you with more information and answer any questions you have for our pool professionals. We look forward to working with you and delivering you high-quality pool maintenance solutions!